As I have been having issues with my Range/Park cables, I finally was able to dig deep into them
I had previously remove the bolts holding down the bracket behind the hydraulic stack, lift up the whole area a bit, and tighten the allen head screws Dr. Allis tight
be danged if everying worked... until it didn't.
so I took a deeper dive into it. What I found was the C-clamp (bit of mickey mouse POS) was broken at one of the screw holes. So, now what.... I'm in Canada, the cost to buy/ship that little piece of metal would be silly... So, I thought, why didn't they use a solid rod C-Clamp/U-bolt like at the lever end of the cable.
So, I made one. I went to a local hardware store, and although they didn't have any U-bolts in the size I needed, I DID find a wire cable clamp, where the U-bolt appeared to be nearly the right size.
So, I bought one, took it apart, and modified the size by forming it over an anvil of appropriate size. I had to spread it out a bit, then insert the anvil into the C, and bring it back around so it was "JUST" slip over the groove.
This left the legs a bit wider, so I drilled out the holes (just drilled near/between the screw holes so they remain undamaged) just enough to get it to fit through. a couple washers/lockwashers, and installed everything. (sure would be easier to have a kid there to move the lever when needed) I could access the nuts from inside the cab, through the floor. removing the bolt/bracket from on top the Range/Park shaft, and unbolting the ball/Socket cable end allowed enough movement to get at the nuts to tighten. with the really snug fit on the cable groove, I didn't get too heavy handed on the nuts, only really snug with lock washers, so I wouldn't crush the cable. I felt that the fit is better, SOLID, so there would be minimal issues with movement/slipping.
bolted down the rear bracket.
tried the lever and all felt well enough. Fired up and ran a test.
a bit stiff as before, I assume from lack of a functioning Transmission brake, and many years of lack of lube, but worked as before. the cable alignment is just a bit lower, which keeps the cable more straight on that the original.
IF I could have sourced an AC U-bolt that matched the front, I'd have gone that route, as I think the ends are identical, and it would have made life a LOT easier.
I'm just putting this out there, in case anyone else is having big issues with their Range/Park cable rear clamp.
I'll add, that after a few times digging into that area, the solid mechanical lever through the floor looks like a pretty easy modification. I may look into that in the future, but for now, I have my extra 10 gears at hand.
------------- AC7060Pd 1975
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